C4 Corvette Restoration: Overhaul Your Brakes!
These are the brakes. Brake it up, brake it up, brake it up!
A little over a month ago, I wrote a post here about my 1986 Corvette project, which is being covered on our sister site, Corvette Forum. I recently just completed another major update, so I thought I’d share it with you fine folks again.
If you recall, the first order of business was to replace the leaking brake master cylinder on my Corvette. I want to have this car painted soon, and I’ve got a buddy who will do the job. However, I don’t want the car leaking all over his shop, so I decided to address the leaks first.
With the master cylinder replaced, it only made sense to go ahead and overhaul the rest of the braking system, so that’s just what I set about doing. Since I was replacing everything, I decided to upgrade a couple pieces, too. I scored some Hawk HPS brake pads from KNS Brakes, as well as braided stainless brake hoses from Russel. Rounding things out were a set of AC Delco rotors and the low-mileage calipers from the parts car.
Make it Pretty, Then Make it Stop
The finned aluminum calipers for these early Corvettes look great, until the inevitable powdery white oxidation sets in. After I cleaned up the parts car calipers, I painted them with aluminum caliper paint, which I then cured in a toaster oven. Curing the paint before reassembly makes the finish more durable, even though the heat from the brakes will eventually cure the paint.
Before I installed the new stuff, I took some time to clean up the suspension and fender wells. Sometimes it’s worth taking the extra time to make things look the way they should.
Re-assembly went off without a hitch, with one notable exception. Early C4 Corvettes use the same size rotors front and rear. I initially installed the rears on the front. It didn’t take long for me to notice my mistake and switch things around.
With the new parts installed, I filled the reservoir and enlisted the help of my neighbor to bleed the brakes. Since the system had been completely drained and open, there was a ton of air to bleed out of the system.
Finishing Up Your Brakes
Once the brakes had been bled, the brakes felt far better than they had when I bought the car. The combination of a leaking master cylinder, old fluid, and improperly installed brake pads resulted in a very spongy feel. That simply wasn’t acceptable for any car, let alone a sports car like the Corvette. After bleeding the system, the brakes finally felt the way they should.
The final step was to bed in the new pads. A few laps around my neighborhood (and about a dozen hard stops) later, my brakes were ready to go. Even though I should be getting the car ready for paint now, I’m glad I took the time to do this right. The car is much better to drive, and it’s one more item I can knock off of the long punch list on this restoration.
I hope you enjoy watching the video as much as I enjoyed making it. See you next time!
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